I've been depressed for the past 3 years

[braccio]

I'm bipolar, but haven't had any manic symptoms in a long time.  I've been depressed for about 3 years now; able to function, but still not feeling like myself.  I wake up dreading the day, having a hard time getting going.  Sometimes I'd just like to stay in bed.  The rest of the day improves a little as it goes along, but the depression still lingers and doesn't go away.  Any recommendations for a good mood stablizer other than Lithium, Lamictal or Depakote, or are those the only mood stabilizers there are?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[zzzmykids]

Braccio,
Thank you for posting! All but eight months since I was eleven, diagnosed at forty plus, I have had depression. Lingering, just there like a misting morning that continues all day, all year and so on. The tentacles from the bed to get out are fierce!
I like both the posts above for great suggestions will borrow from them and see if I can find something better than Lithium....but I have a very hard time with med reactions.
But it would be nice to have a balance between sides rather than on the low side.
Good luck with the suggestions and for the  sense to post.
zzzmykids

[sydneylou]

G'day braccio. I can really, really empathize with you!

Aside from finding the "right" meds, I highly recommend CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy). CBT can teach you strategies that are helpful in coping with depressive episodes (even ones that last years!). The main idea is that our PERCEPTION of an event or experience, powerfully affects our emotional, behavioural and physiological responses to it. By being able to identify our thoughts and identify our mood(s), behaviours and physical reactions, we can question our perception of what is really happening. Practicing CBT forces you to challenge the meaning and usefulness of various thoughts you might have during the day (EX: I'm a failure, I'll never amount to anything, nobody likes me, I can't do anything right etc.etc.etc!) CBT helped me to change my thinking patterns that kept me locked into dysfunctional moods and behaviours. By challenging a thought such as, "I never do anything right" and then objectively looking at my life - seeing that clearly, I have done many things right, my perception changed which caused my mood to change and even my behaviour. I hope this makes a little sense. Practicing CBT takes time and work. I'll be honest with you, sometimes I throw it out the window, so to speak, but when I do, depression moves closer or deeper. I don't think CBT is "the" answer to managing BP but it certainly helped me to surface from the despair and from my duvet.

Sending you kind thoughts and understanding. YOU WILL BE OK!

[ILADVOCATE]

I believe this list should have everything:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm
The other ones I tried were Trileptal (which is used fairly often, its a safer version of Tegretol basically), Neurotin (which is somewhat effective) and Keppra (which for me had too many side effects which is not uncommon). Topomax can be helpful for some people. Lovaza is used experimentally as a mood stabilizer but I've never tried it. The mood stabilizer I take Catapres works well for me but some people cannot tolerate it. The anti-convulsant that is showing mood stabilization properties in me is a literal first use so I won't print its name. But among the ones I did post as well as others on that list there should be options that are workable so speak to your psychiatrist about that. If they are unfamiliar with any of those options a mood disorders specialist or psychopharmocologist would know about them because all of them are FDA approved but used off label (among the lesser used one).